The 2025 John Deere Classic is scheduled to begin on Thursday, July 3, and a number of players are approaching this event with high hopes for victory. Defending champion Davis Thompson is keen to defend his title, having produced several strong performances this season, including a top-10 finish at The Players Championship in March. A win this week at TPC Deere Run would make him the first golfer since Steve Stricker, who won three consecutive times from 2009 to 2011, to achieve back-to-back victories in this tournament.
In the mix is Rickie Fowler, a seasoned PGA champion with six titles to his name. Fowler, who has placed T-16 or better in half of his recent six outings, enters the tournament as a 55-1 underdog. Current odds list Ben Griffin as the 16-1 favorite, while Thompson is pegged at 35-1 for another victory.
The tournament field has been analyzed by SportsLine’s advanced predictive model, which indicates that Jason Day, a notable contender at 22-1, may not perform to expectations this week. Despite a recent T-4 finish at the Travelers Championship, Day has struggled with consistency, having not won a PGA Tour event since the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson and finished T-23 in the 2024 John Deere Classic.
Conversely, Chris Gotterup, considered a longshot at 40-1, is showing promise and may be overlooked by many. His recent performances have included finishes of T-26 or better in six of his last eight events, thanks to his strong iron play. Entering the tournament ranked seventh in greens in regulation percentage and 18th in scoring average, Gotterup presents a compelling option for those seeking an underdog pick.
Bettors are advised to look at longshots, as the model has identified several golfers with odds of 35-1 or higher who also have the potential for a strong showing. As the professional golf season continues to captivate audiences, fans are excited to see who will emerge at the 2025 John Deere Classic.
The anticipation surrounding this year’s tournament is palpable, and with a mix of seasoned veterans and emerging talents, the competition promises to be thrilling.